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Book your room at Courtyard by Marriott Paris Boulogne
Please enter your travel dates.
Deluxe Room - Stay 2 nights get 15% off Best Availabl
- One King Bed
Business - Weekend Rate incl. breakfast
- FREE Breakfast
Breakfast is included in your stay.
- One King Bed
Superior Room - Best Available Rate incl. breakfast.
- FREE Breakfast
Breakfast is included in your stay.
- One King Bed
4-star hotel in Boulogne-Billancourt with a restaurant
Situated in the city center, this hotel is close to Parc des Princes, Stade de Roland Garros, and Pont de Sevres. Also nearby are Parc de St-Cloud and Pierre de Coubertin Stadium.
Hotel Features
In addition to a restaurant, Courtyard by Marriott Paris Boulogne features a bar/lounge. Other amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access and a rooftop terrace.
Room Amenities
Flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Guestrooms also feature refrigerators, wireless Internet access (surcharge), and climate control.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Courtyard by Marriott Paris Boulogne
- The Overview
The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Business amenities at this 4-star property consist of a 24-hour business center, audiovisual equipment, and small meeting rooms.
An Internet point is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. Event facilities measuring 1399 square feet (130 square meters) include conference/meeting rooms and banquet facilities. This business-friendly hotel also offers a rooftop terrace, tour/ticket assistance, and multilingual staff. Limited onsite parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis (surcharge). A total renovation of this property was completed in 2011.
Courtyard by Marriott Paris Boulogne is a smoke-free property.
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 113
- Number of floors - 5
- Audiovisual equipment
- Banquet facilities
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business services
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Multiple large conference rooms
- Currency exchange
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Event catering
- Internet point
- Free Wi-Fi
- Grocery/convenience store
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Multiple small meeting rooms
- Microwave in lobby
- Multilingual staff
- Parking (surcharge)
- Parking limited (surcharge)
- Patio
- Rooftop terrace
- Luggage storage
- Restaurant
- Room service (limited hours)
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- 24-hour business center
- Meeting facilities size (feet) - 1399
- Meeting facilities size (meters) - 130
- Number of meeting/conference rooms - 2
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Television in lobby
- Tour assistance
- Connect
Available in all rooms: Wireless Internet access (surcharge)
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
Parking (surcharge), Parking limited (surcharge)
- The Room
- Premium bedding
- Soundproofed rooms
- Climate control
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Hair dryer
- Bathtub or shower
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Cable TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- Wireless Internet access (surcharge)
- Down comforter
- Connecting / adjoining rooms available
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- The Eats
Hot/cold buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 6:30 AM and 10 AM.
Oleo Pazzo - This restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch. A children's menu is available. Happy hour is offered.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
- Out and About
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Tennis nearby
- Sports center nearby
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- Braille or raised signage
- In-room accessibility
The Fine Print for Courtyard by Marriott Paris Boulogne
- Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
- Check-out
Check-out time is noon
- Pay
Accepted at this hotel: MasterCard, Visa, American Express
- You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- Unless otherwise indicated, the charges below are not included in the overall room price. If not included in the overall room price, they will be charged by the property at check-in or check-out. Charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book. This property told us they will charge you for the following:
We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 1.65 per person, per night. This tax does not apply to children under 13 years of age.
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Breakfast fee: between EUR 9.50 and EUR 18.00 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: EUR 18 per day (rates may vary)
- Self parking fee: EUR 18.00 per day
- Rollaway bed fee: EUR 10.00 per night
- We Should Mention
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.


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Climber/Wall Shrub or Annual/Biennial
Acute ingestion may cause mild stomach upset
H2 (tender - cool or frost-free greenhouse)
White and Pale Purple in Autumn and Summer
Green in Autumn and Summer
1.5-2.5 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
1-2 years
sweet pea 'Patricia Anne'
Lathyrus can be annuals or herbaceous or evergreen perennials, mostly climbing, with pinnate leaves ending in a tendril, and showy pea-like flowers, fragrant in some species
'Patricia Anne' is a vigorous annual climber to 1.8m, with long stems bearing about four flowers 5cm across, the petals white, flushed with light violet away from the base
Suppliers listed in RHS Plant Finder
Award of Garden Merit
Grow in humus-rich, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light dappled shade. Incorporate well-rotted organic manure before planting and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks when in growth. Deadhead regularly
Propagate by seed. Sow in a cold frame in early autumn, early spring or in-situ in mid-spring
City/Courtyard Gardens, Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower borders and beds, Cut Flowers or Wall-side Borders
Deadhead regularly and cut back after flowering
May be attacked by aphids, slugs, snails and thrips
May be subject to powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, foot rot, root rot and a virus
© The Royal Horticultural Society 2011 / RHS Registered Charity № 222879/SC038262

subset: commoncrawl


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"The purpose for this is that it gives us an opportunity because if you get out there with the whole team, the young guys are always in the back of the line," Saban said. "They're the last guys to get in. … We use this split format to be able to really focus on trying to teach them the drills, the fundamentals, the flexibility program."
Here are a few takeaways:
--Alabama had nine offensive lineman. They were repeatedly told to "blow people off the ball."
--True freshmen Cooper Bateman, Luke Del Rio and Parker McLeod were the quarterbacks on hand.
--Robert Foster, the last 2013 recruit to be cleared, looked crisp while running routes. Foster will wear No. 8, following in the footsteps of former Tide star Julio Jones.
--Reuben Foster and other middle linebackers ran drills with defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. If Foster takes in everything Smart tells him, he could be the next great Alabama middle linebacker.
--The defensive lineman are all massive, overgrown 18-year-olds. Just imagine what they will look like in two or three years once they get on a college training regime. They were repeatedly coached on hand placement and eye level.
Day two of preseason practice is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 with Fan Day scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m.


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In an industry first, Starwood Hotels and Delta Air Lines are teaming up to give their best customers reciprocal elite-level benefits.
Crossover Rewards will launch March 1 and offer some elite frequent-fliers on Delta enhanced perks when staying at any of Starwood's hotels, including Four Points, Sheraton and Westin. And top members of Starwood's loyalty program, SPG, will gain some elite-level perks when flying Delta.
Expanding Loyalty, Driving Business
Most airlines and hotels currently partner and allow members to earn or redeem points between the two industries. But the Crossover Rewards program marks a first in that elite perks will be available — even if you only have the necessary premium status at one of the two companies.
The goal? To lure more travelers to their respective programs.
"This enriches the experience for our most valuable travelers, and gives both Delta and Starwood an opportunity to target frequent travelers who aren't already part of our programs, enabling us to capture a greater share of the global, high-end traveler," said Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of Starwood, in a release.
How Crossover Rewards Works
Delta's SkyMiles Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion members—those who fly at least 75,000 miles annually—will receive priority check-in, 4 p.m. late checkout and free in-room Internet access when staying at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Additionally, all Delta elites—those who fly at least 25,000 miles annually—will earn one mile per dollar spent on eligible room rates.
In turn, SPG Platinum members—those who complete 25 stays or 50 nights annually—will get priority check-in, one free checked bag and priority boarding when flying Delta. Plus, all SPG elites—those who complete 10 stays or 25 nights annually—will earn one point per dollar spent on eligible flights.
Your SkyMiles and SPG accounts must be linked in order to take advantage of Crossover Rewards. Registration for the program opens March 1. In the meantime, both Starwood and Delta have set up websites fully detailing the program, available by clicking here and here.
Will this program have an impact on your decision of airline or hotel?


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Amtrak - Never again
Posted by Cloudrider on 07/02/2010
In summary taking Amtrak was a terrible experience. Arrogant unfriendly personnel, dirty bathrooms, cold temperatures because A. C. is turned up too high, dirty windows, too uncomfortable to get any sleep, trains don't run on time, for what they charge for a sleeper you may as well fly. I would never take Amtrak again, I would drive first.
Read the story -
Amtrak experience was terrible. We took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to L. A.
, CA, 2 Reserved Coach Seats, departed 09-JUN-10; 3:15 pm - arrival 11-JUN-10; 8:15 am . This is what we experienced on the trip to L. A.
We were assigned seats by an Amtrak employee before boarding the train. Our seats were #3 and #4 on the last car of the train. We had all of bags in place and were all settled in. Then about 20 min. after the train pulled out of the station, the attendant for our car who's name is Francis told us that we could not sit in those seats, they were for her and that we had to move. I told her that we were assigned those seats at the station, she said that they didn't know what they were doing and we had to move. We were some what embarrasssed in front of the other passengers, since Francis made us feel like we were trying to get away with something. So took our luggage and moved to the new seats. Shortly there after we decided to go to the observation car, we spent maybe an hour and a half in the observation car and returned to our seats. When we returned to our car there were 2 people sitting in the seats that Francis removed us from. When I asked Francis why there were people sitting in those seats she said they over booked the train so she had to seat them there. Well the train was not over booked. The rest of the evening and next day Francis sat in the seats across from this couple and spent a lot of time talking to them, I suspect they were her friends and she wanted them to sit in the back across from her and that's why she moved us. Francis was arrogant and not very friendly, she seemed to be bothered if you asked her a question. She spent a lot of her time texting on her cell phone. Sometime during the second day she moved up to the car in front of us along with her friends. Some other people then sat in the seats she removed us from.
All of the windows on the train were dirty, the windows on the observation car were very dirty, we could hardly see out of some of the windows, very disappointing since that's one of the reasons for riding the train.
The bathrooms were always dirty but by the second day the sinks were clogged up, water was to the top. Some were out of paper towels. I saw a passenger put paper towels in one of the bathrooms, I don't know where she got them from. I guess Francis was too busy texting.
During the second evening my wife came back from the restroom and told me that when she passed the baggage area she didn't see one of my suit cases. I went down to the baggage area and could not find one of my suit cases. I was now almost frantic thinking of the things I had in my bag that would be lost. I informed one of the conductors that my bag was missing, he went down to the baggage area with me, asked me to describe my bag, I did, he then took me to another car, showed me a bag that was stored above a seat that had a passenger in it and asked me if that was my bag, and it was. He told me that sometimes they move people's bags from the baggage area so that can have room for larger suit cases. How can they move people's bags with out telling them. If my wife hadn't noticed that my bag was missing what would I have done when we got to our destination. Amtrak has no consideration for it's passengers.
Forget about trying to sleep in coach. The seats are very uncomfortable, they give you a very small pillow about 12" by 8" and don't even think of asking for two. The temperature was freezing at night, they wouldn't turn off the air, grown men were bundle led up in blankets and wore hoodies. Also the aisle lights are so bright they keep you awake, I was lucky if I got an hour of sleep each night.
No A. C. outlets by the passenger seats. The only electrical A. C. outlets were 2 of them on the observation car, of course everyone and their brother wanted to plug in.
We were almost an hour late leaving Albuquerque, N. M., the morning of our arrival the conductor told me we would be a good 45 min. late arriving in L. A. So I called my son who was picking us up that we would be about an hour late. I don't know how the engineer did it but we ended up getting to L. A. around 45 min earlier than what our original scheduled time was. So of course we had a long wait at the L. A. station for my son to pick us up.
The return trip, Southwest Chief, from Los Angeles to Chicago 19-JUN-10; 6:55 pm – arrival 21-JUN-10; 3:10 pm.
The return trip was slightly better than the train going out. But again we had a rude, arrogant attendant named Antonio. Again the air was turned way up and it was freezing at night. Earlier in the day an elderly man asked Antonio if he could turn the air down since it was cold on the car, Antonio was almost rude to him and told him that he couldn't and wouldn't turn it down. That evening I asked Antonio to turn down the air, it was too cold to try and sleep, again grown men were bundled in blankets wearing hoodies. Antonio told me that if tried to turn down the air he might break it and then we wouldn't have air conditioning the next day, what kind of crap is that. Again about an hour's sleep all night. The other thing on this car was the guy running the snack bar would come on the P. A. system about every half an hour trying to sell his snacks, drinks and food, Very Annoying. All the windows were again dirty. The bathrooms were kept a little better. This time we kept all of our bags with us. An attendant named Nina did try and keep things cleaner than the first train, she was often going around with a vacuum. The train arrived about an hour and a half late to Chicago.
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Posted by Apple Mac on 2010-07-02:
Sound like your typical government run agency, with employees who do not want to work for the high salary they make. Wait until the same government, who runs Amtrak and the Post Office, takes over the health care in this country.
Good post - you are better off flying if you have a long distance to travel.
Posted by spiderman2 on 2010-07-02:
Apple is right, just wait until the government is running healthcare!
Posted by leet60 on 2010-07-02:
Just seems odd that the OP had such a horrendous experience on the outbound trip, yet jumped right back on the train for the return trip.
Posted by spiderman2 on 2010-07-02:
I'm betting the tickets were purchased for a round trip and they weren't cheap.
Posted by Harry Patterson on 2013-03-04:
Just because airlines aren't a line item in the federal budget (like Amtrak is) doesn't mean airlines subsist without any form of government subsidy.
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Love Hate Relationship With Amtrak
Posted by Desolationangel34 on 03/24/2013
CHICAGO-LOS ANGELES, ILLINOIS -- Here's the good, bad and ugly regarding my many trips on Amtrak, always long distance (since I had to stop flying due to an ear pressure issue)
Good: if you get a sleeper car, you are treated well by everyone working on the train it seems.
Bad: Sleeping cars will make it prohibitively expensive if you need to travel more than once a year and book quick.
Ugly: if you book coach (which still costs slightly more than a similar airline ticket for long, big city trips), be prepared to be treated like trash by most Amtrak employees. You might as well not be human. I have dealt with 10% of attendants who aren't like this (and be very thankful if you get a dreadlocked gentleman named Michael, he is awesome).
Good: food, which is included in your total if you book a sleeper, is surprisingly edible.
Bad: if you do not get a sleeper, the dining options are pretty pricey for what you get and they tend to serve you with less care (a recurring theme with Amtrak employees).
Ugly: Amtrak is ridiculously disorganized, will overfill overnight trips with seating arrangements, when you walk through the train, there are empty 2 seaters all over the place. Meanwhile, they consistently put tall guys together for days, making it very uncomfortable just because they can. And they will not rectify it because if you are traveling in coach, who cares about you.
Good: very informative about delays, which aren't their fault. Anyone who travels by train knows Amtrak doesn't own the rails and the vaunted private sector believes all goods have the right of way over people. So if you blame the government, as some commenters do, you should note the next bad. And they try to make up time in the middle, but obviously can not get ahead until the end since they can't leave stops early.
Bad: a lot of entitled jack holes seem to ride, whether it be 12 pieces of luggage guy or fall asleep on your shoulder guy.
Good: lots of great scenery. Great way to see the country. Multi city option is great.
Bad: the guest rewards program is awful. They spend more time with point gimmicks on credit cards and other shopping offers than they do on loyal travelers, which is just awful.
Ugly: I will reiterate, most of the attendants are just horrid. Watch your stuff like a hawk, because if something goes missing, they don't care at all.
Good: always had an outlet right at my seat. Makes travel easier.
Bad: get wifi and join the 21st century. Most Greyhounds have it for crying out loud.
Good: loads of legroom and carry on space. Bring some food with you if you can taking advantage of this.
Bad: pay someone to clean the bathrooms, although maybe some passengers should join civilization instead of being gross.
I could say more, but this covers the what to expect.
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Posted by saj80 on 2013-03-24:
Great post, and from my Amtrak experiences, 100% accurate.
Posted by trmn8r on 2013-03-24:
If there is plenty of legroom, I don't see why Amtrak intentionally (???) putting tall people next to each other is an issue.
Greyhounds have wifi? Cool! That almost makes me want to try go for a bus ride, with people even more gross than the ones you described. Travelling using public conveyances is an eye-opener for the uninitiated.
Your post is informative, and reminds me of a few train rides I have taken. The sleeper option is costly but definitely results in a more pleasurable experience.
Posted by Nohandle on 2013-03-24:
I have not traveled for years by rail (as a child) but it sounds like what someone would expect by plane now. At one time by air seats could be swapped after take off if there were empty ones. I have no idea now how it works now.
I've thought for a long time a trip by rail staying on the same train until I reached my destination would be just the the ticket. Perhaps not so.
Posted by Chaparrita on 2013-03-24:
Good, fair review. Better than most I've seen on this site.
Posted by Desolationangel34 on 2013-03-24:
Nohandle, for one time travel, book the roomette, you'll be very thankful. I travel too often right now for that to work price wise but when it was a 1 time expense as you sound like you want, it's well worth it.
I could have been more clear on my legroom problem. They are very strict on seat assignment for no reason, and unlike what I remember about flying, you have no choice, they do it all as you board. And anyone over 6'2 when mixed with another person for a long duration of the same build, is going to be more uncomfortable as legs take up space. But it is by far more legroom than a coach plane ticket or bus. I just don't get their unwillingness to let tall people switch to aisle seats for more than 24 hour trips when they are open. To be honest, it's truly just attendant laziness. I was on one really late trip where they discussed leaving people because one of the attendants left the seating chart in the terminal and a few paid ticket holders didn't get theirs. Outside of sleepers, they hate coach travelers (and my last coach trip cost 400 dollars, not like it was cheap).
Posted by jonthethird on 2013-03-25:
As a regular AMTRAK passenger, your review is spot on for the Southwest Chief. I ride the Zephyr and Coast Starlight regularly, and find the crews much more professional then those on the SW Chief. LA has a beautiful station, but the people there are the worst.
The BEST is the Empire Builder.
Posted by Alain on 2013-03-25:
I'll be thinking about this when I decide whether to take a plane, train or bus later this year for a quick trip, Pitt to Baltimore. Thanks for the excellent, helpful review!
Posted by Dale on 2013-08-25:
This review is informative and accurate. I am a retired Airline Pilot and I LOVE the train.
However, I would never travel if a roomette or bedroom was not available.
Perks on the sleeping cars not mentioned: You are allowed to bring your own alcohol on board. There are free mixers (water, juice and ice) at a bufette in each car.
You get reserved seating for meals. Your steward asks you what time you want to eat and calls you 15 min prior.
When buying the cheapest coach ticket you can get, and add a roomette or bedroom, 2 additional people (BR or 1 Roomette) are entitled to that same cheap fare regardless of when they book as long as they share your room...and they eat free as well...
Yes, I LOVE the train...D
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An Amtrak Trip You Should Know About
Posted by Dg6542 on 09/22/2008
In October of 2007, my wife and I (65 years old) began a two thousand dollar Amtrak trip in a standard roomette. We were soon subjected to stultifying high temperatures and a lack of ventilation in our 6 and-a-half by 3 and-a-half foot compartment. The unsmiling, condescending and insolent conductors professed helplessness in the face of the oppressive conditions, and when I asked one of the conductors what his name was, he immediately covered his identity badge with his hand!
We continued to object to these conditions, and finally the conductor had the train stopped, called in local marshals, and ejected my wife and I from the train in the middle of the night.
We were forced to quickly pack all of our luggage and drag our bags off the train without any assistance. We had our tickets confiscated, and were left standing in the dark around midnight, after being told that we were forever banned from Amtrak trains. However, we were not the only couple who was profoundly distressed by our Amtrak experience. When the conductor overheard me speaking to one of the marshals about this, he immediately returned our tickets to us and offered my wife and I the option of getting back on the train the following day! What was it that I told the Marshall? That approximately 12 hours before, another couple had been kicked off the train with the accompaniment of the police for complaining about the suffocating conditions!
It's one thing that Amtrak charges high prices for the honor of occupying a tiny bedroom in one of their obsolete railcars. It's another thing if in addition, the service personnel are generally rude, insulting and sadistic. The only exception to this would be in the dining car where a gratuity is expected.
My wife and I sued Amtrak for this abusive service and our abandonment in an unknown town in the middle of the night. We won with little difficulty.
It seems Amtrak has a stable of attorneys on call to take care of litigations of this type. Make sure you are prepared with adequate legal support the next time you travel Amtrak.
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Posted by ejack053824 on 2008-09-22:
No way I would ever take one of those cattle cars. Take a cruise next time...I'm sure you will enjoy that much better! :)
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-09-22:
I real life "Throw Mama From The Train"!
I'd start sending them text messages. They're quite scared of those these days.
Posted by madconsumer on 2008-09-22:
there has to be more to this than being told. people are not removed form trains for complaining about no ac.
i would like to read the court docets if this rally went to court.
Posted by oldisgood on 2008-09-23:
it seems a whole bunch of information is missing from this post.
Posted by grandma005 on 2008-09-23:
Next time ride coach seats. You will have A/C and save a lot of money.
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Amtrak needs a major overhaul/housecleaning
Posted by Eyrewoman on 07/23/2007
FREMONT, MICHIGAN -- I am compelled to write and relate the horrible experience we received at the hands of the Amtrak Company. In the last five years, my family and I have been frequent and preferred travelers on Amtrak. We have traveled on Amtrak on our last three cross country vacations as first class passengers. We even use the Amtrak Visa as our most used credit card. I would also like to add here that as a teacher, I was one of the biggest advocates of train travel and your company until our most recent experience.
You can review the file # 2021846 for details on our train reservations and tickets, but our trip went seriously awry almost at the very beginning of our journey. We planned to park in the long term parking in Holland Michigan and meet the Southwest Chief in Chicago. Upon pulling into the parking lot, we were immediately accosted by two women who refused to identify themselves. They were telling everyone that they could not park in the Amtrak designated lot but must move to a lot over a half mile away. The women claimed that the alternate lot was clearly identified with Amtrak signs and flags, but it was not. Afraid that we would miss the train, my husband parked the car in a completely random parking lot nearly one mile away from the Amtrak lot. Throughout our entire stay in California, we never knew if our car would be in the lot when we returned or not. The one Amtrak employee at the station would not comment about these two unidentified women who were claiming to everyone that the parking lot would be "ripped up" for remodeling in a day or two even though the parking lot looked like it was in fine condition.
The train to Chicago was canceled and busses were sent to take us to Chicago. The Amtrak employee on our bus was very nice, but he did not know where the train stations were. We were lost a few times, and the employee had to go into gas stations (in full Amtrak uniform) and ask where the train stations were. Fortunately, we arrived in time to still catch the Southwest Chief train #3 on July 6.
As I stated before, my family and I are seasoned Amtrak travelers. Our car hostess was excellent on this trip out to California. Our kids were really disappointed that Amtrak no longer employed a Native American guide for narration in the Western states or provided a movie in the lounge car. Our car hostess, however, did point out many places of interest to us. Also very disappointing on our trip to California was the major decline in the food and service of the dining car. We tried to understand paper table cloths and plastic plates as the ravages of budget cuts, but the "special" was the same "country fried steak" on both nights of the trip, and the passengers who were in the private, pulled cars treated the diner like a bar. They were given very preferential treatment to the Amtrak first class customers who only wanted to fed. We found the dining staff to be exceptionally rude to paying Amtrak customers and exceptionally accommodating to the people in the cars that were being pulled behind us.
All of the minor inconveniences pale, however, to what we experienced when our Train # 5 Southwest Chief arrived in Chicago at 9:00 p.m. - over five hours late. Once again, as seasoned Amtrak passengers, we did not worry about the delay and believed all the assurances we were given on the train that busses would be waiting to take us to our destinations or appropriate hotel accommodations would be made. Now, the nightmare begins.
When we arrived in Chicago, the customer service staff acted completely surprised and irritated by our presence. We were herded back and forth between a foyer, the ticket line, and waiting room G. Our family was sent and waited in line in three different places. The promised busses never came. Finally near midnight, we made it to a customer service employee who informed us that we were all going to be sent to a hotel in Homewood - a far south suburb which was over 40miles away. I have enclosed a review on this hotel. I grew up near this hotel and it had hourly rates when I was a child. There was no way I was going to this hotel 40 miles away from the station, after midnight, when I knew what a filthy and dangerous place it was. Because the employees would not send a bus back to this hotel until noon, anyone with a possible morning connection was basically told to like it or lump it. Especially rude throughout this entire experience was an employee with the last name Maloney. She was seriously angry when about 15 of us opted to spend the night in the station and catch morning connections rather than go to this "fleabag" motel over 40 miles away. Amtrak claimed that all Chicago hotels were filled. This was not true. Ms. Maloney said they usually put people up in Hyatt, Swisshotel and Westin. I called all three hotels that night, and they all had rooms.
Those of us who were spending the night were not given pillows or meals or even allowed in a first class lounge. Were were ushered into a filthy coach lounge with individual metal chairs that were bolted together - not conducive to sleeping. Ms. xxxxxxxx backed by an equally nasty security guard who insisted on treating us like prison inmates informed us that we had "refused" their offer of a hotel and we had better get something to eat (with our own money) in the next half hour because we were going to be confined to this room by the security guard.
Making the best of it, we found some mats that were velcroed to the wall, and we made up beds. In this group of fifteen was a crying teenage girl who we had to give money for food, other children, and a man who was traveling to his brother's funeral and needed to be there by the next afternoon. My husband had to phone work and tell them he would miss another day - not an easy call to make when you have been on vacation for two weeks.
When we got all settled, in comes the nasty security guard and this Ms Mxxxxxxx again. In a loud voice with guard behind her, she demanded to know who had taken the mats off the walls. We explained to her that we all had, and that it was our only means of passing the night without food, pillows, blankets, and now locked bathrooms. Again she angrily insisted that we were offered a hotel that we we did not take and we were lucky they were letting us stay in this lounge. I then informed her that all of us wanted MORNING connections and would not be transported 40 miles away from the station without transportation back until noon could not go to this hotel. She then said she was going to get a manager and that we would not be permitted to use the mats.
After she strode away, the security guard told us that we were lucky we were not going to be thrown on the streets. He told us he should take us out and turn us out on the streets of Chicago and it was only by the grace of Amtrak that we were getting this lounge. My kids started crying and then he left. A few minutes later, the manager strode into the lounge, took one look at our pathetic selves that you must remember had been a train for three days before this experience. Then he strode out again without a word. Thankfully, we never saw Ms. Maloney again, but at 5 am, the security guard yelled in prison tone and fashion, "Ok, ladies and gentlemen, this lounge is opening in 5 minutes. You need to get up, put the cushions back and get out. McDonalds will be opening in 5 minutes!!!" Let me tell you, at that moment, I did not feel like someone who had paid thousands of dollars to be a first class passenger on Amtrak, my husband was missing work, my exhausted kids were sicker than dogs, I felt dirty inside and out. We cashed in our train tickets, and headed to Greyhound by cab. We slept on the floor of the Greyhound station until our bus came to take us to Michigan.
I am not writing this letter because I want anything from Amtrak, but you need to be aware of the way first class passengers were treated at the hands of your corporation. Our experience was nothing short of a nightmare but then I think what if I were elderly, or a mother traveling alone or someone like that poor terrified teenage girl with no money who spent the night in the lounge with us? What about these people? C'mon Amtrak, you can do better and you know you can….time to clean house and start being a service for people again. I am only a teacher, but I could have never treated anyone the way Ms. Maloney and the rest of that staff treated us. I could have never went home to my comfy bed knowing there were people in that stuffy, nasty lounge all night. Shame on them. Shame on them. And if you ignore this letter and do nothing about this: Shame on you.
Amtrak Guest Rewards Member #xxxxxxxxxxx
****When we arrived back in Holland, MI and hiked the mile to our car absolutely no changes had been made to where we were originally going to park in the Amtrak lot.
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Posted by firengine103 on 2007-07-23:
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-07-23:
Wow! Some vacation
Posted by familytravel on 2007-07-23:
This sounds miserable, and it doesn't surprise me at all Amtrak treated you all this way. I only travel for extremely short distances. I find most Amtrak staff to be downright mean and cruel to passengers. Let us know if Amtrak responds to the letter!
Posted by Starlord on 2007-07-23:
I don't knnw what happened, but my post was eaten in mid-composition. Thie person's treatment is intolerable. I have not traveled by train since I was a child, and I remember the trains as a great way to travel. I have never used Amtrak, as they did not exist when I went by train, my last two experiences with Greyhound were very similar to the OP's treament at the hands of Amtrak. I go by air or by car, and have been very satisfied. Amtrak should hang it's head in shame and learn how to treat customers. It is time all companies pick up on the fact thaqt the customer is the reason they are in business, and without the customers, they will have no business, regardless of how pretty their stores, offices or cars are. Treat your customers right, or you will find out what red ink is REALLY all about.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-07-23:
Totaly unbelievable! what a bad vacation!
Posted by lepearso on 2007-07-23:
This is outrageous!
First of all, you should refer the matter at the Holland train station to your elected officials in Michigan. The train to Holland is sponsored by the State Dep't of Transportation.
Secondly, Amtrak has had problems in the past with the management at Chicago Union Station. Send a letter to Mr. Alex Kummant, the president of the company, and let him know how horrible this was.
Third, the decline in first class service is partially a result of congress trying to micromanage Amtrak's on-board services. Or, it could be a result of Amtrak making cuts in the wrong places. Whatever the reason, it is not acceptable.
I too am an Amtrak rider and a supporter of the train system. However, sometimes Amtrak is its own worst enemy.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-07-24:
Admittedly the OP had a horrible experience. The Southwest Chief operates with Superliner cars. I am assuming the private cars are not Amtrak equipment. If there are private cars attached there's no way for those passengers to gain access to the Amtrak diner. Passage through Superliners are via the upper level whereas private cars are single level. There is a way to move from one level to another through what's called a Transition car but those are only used for employees and there are always locked to prevent passengers from gaining access. Also passengers in private cars are not allowed to enter the rest of the train except in emergencies. They usually carry their own food and drink. I'll agree that the food on Amtrak has really gone downhill what with budget cuts. In fact no railroad ever turned a profit on food service. Amtrak loses millions on food service every year. In all my train travel over the years only once have I experienced poor service, but never coming close to to this story.
Posted by mangomaiden on 2007-07-24:
This is one the best well-written, legitimate grievances I've seen on here. I certainly hope you take lepearso's advice and forward this onto both the management at Chicago Union Station AND Amtrak. Your experience sounds absolutely intolerable.
Posted by Ponie on 2007-07-24:
'I am only a teacher,...' Do NOT belittle yourself. You sound like the type teacher we need more of in our public school system.
This is a very well written letter and I hope Amtrak responds favorably to you.
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-07-24:
Over at http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?showtopic=17663
There a multi page discussion on the subject as posted here. No, I did not originate it there.
Posted by Dakota17 on 2007-08-03:
I think that I had also met your Ms. XXXX while we were trying to work out a hotel/bus solution after missing our connection as well. I thought she was just having a bad day when we met her. She is the part of the reason I sat down to write a complaint letter to Amtrak. I did want to let you know, not that this helps at all, that they did redo both the overflow lot and the main Amtrak lot in Holland. It only took them about four days to do it but anyone gone over that time period had to park in the old Pietro's parking lot. Not that it changes how they handled the situation or anything, just for info. We also had to park in the Pietro's lot and I can understand how anyone that's not from around here might be hesitant to do so. Thanks for your post. It was very well written.
Posted by Leave Early and Walk on 2007-08-18:
Maybe politics has no place in this discussion or perhaps it does. I last rode the Amtrak "Coast Starlight" in 2001 from Portland to Seattle. Parlour (what genius changed the spelling from "parlor")Car was nice; dining car a joke for someone who's old enough to remember the Santa Fe "Super Chief". No more. Amtrak is part of a huge regression in travel comfort in the U.S. and abroad.
Despite high gas prices, congestion, global warming and lord knows what other aggrevations, George Bush hasn't had a clue. I wish we could send him back to Texas when his term is up via Amtrak in coach. Bottom line is that it's time for whomever takes over to chuck the whole organization and start over.
No public carrying passenger railroad in the world makes money. Some trains will and do, but for a whole system, no. We need an independent body, legislation with teeth, and someone who understands that they are selling a service. Certainly a number of the freight railroads have let their tracks go to hell, constantly delay Amtrak and skirt around their contracts.
Until we have a rational national transportation policy we're doomed to more of the same. Let's see, the highway bridges are collapsing, airline service and reliability is a disgrace, Greyhound is real "dog", rail travel stinks. Now you understand my "handle". The market is there for rail travel and moving freight off over crowded highways to upgraded railroads is not only cost effective, but helps cut down on global warming.
Will we every wise up? One hopes, and by the way before you gang up on me for "Bush Bashing" I'm a registered Republican. Stand up, speak out and don't take it any more. If you can afford it with our lousy exchange rate, get to France and take the TGV. It is possible to get somewhere with reasonable speed, great comfort and good, if a bit expensive, dining. Am I jealous? You bet!
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Amtrak Texas Eagle Is A Joke!
Posted by Mike3797 on 04/11/2010
Amtrak Texas eagle is a complete joke, train both ways were hours late, food was terrible, staff were typical government employees, lazy with attitude. Train smelled of chemical toilet, I spent more than a plane fare to try the train and never again! I am a veteran but the only way to get the veterans fare was to join a for profit organization called "veterans advantage" for $60. dollars.
What a joke, don't do me any favors! We should stop funding this waste! of course it is governments job to waste our money isn't it?
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Posted by wendy on 2013-08-01:
July 13, 2013: I purchased a roomette for myself. I have a disability and thought that a 14 hr. trip would be easier for me if I could lay down. I was not assisted to my roomette, nor did my car attendant introduce himself to me. Infact I did not even know there was a car attendant for several hours. As I began to try to make a bed out of my 2 sets, which caused me a great deal of pain!!! I began to notice the smell of raw sewerage!!! This DISGUSTING smell only got worse every 15-20 mins. when my entire room would become engulfed by a huge gush of the smell of raw sewerage!!!! I pleaded with the conductore to move me from the roomette to another. He said that he could not as that later on when we arrive in Housto Tx. more people would be getting on board. I had to spend my entire journey from New Orleans La. to San Antonio Tx. in a car that smelled worse then a port-o-john in mid summer. The man who was my car attendant, was very rude!!! The people in the dining car were also very rude!!! This was not just a bad experince. This was a Nightmare!!! Ispent most of the time in my roomette, with my face covered with a scarf, crying, and wishing that I could jump from the train!!! This was peppered w/ trips to a very tiny bathroom to vomit, literally!!! Customer service was not much help. They offered a portion of 1 trip next time. I don't think there will be another time!!!
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A Nice Alternative
Posted by Obsfucation on 12/07/2010
Auto Train Route
A long planned trip to Disney World with the grandkids was scheduled for the week following Thanksgiving. When I was making the travel arrangements, I was dreading the airport hassles, with visions of my 5 year old grandson being strip searched. (I think we all saw that video).
Then I remembered the Auto Train. We did this trip a few times when our own kids were small, and liked it then.
It's even better now. The train departs from Lorton VA, so we drove down from Boston the day before, and spent the time on a quick DC tour. You board the train at 3 pm, and at the same time your car is loaded onto a car carrier.
The train pulls out at 4, and at 5 they have the first seating for dinner in the dining car. On the outbound trip I had chicken marsala, wine and cheesecake. Returning it was braised beef, more wine and a decadent brownie a la mode. In general, the conductor and support staff are very cordial and friendly, and took time out to socialize with the kids.
In the evening they run a movie in the lounge car, and put out cookies and snacks. After that, I was ready to recline my seat and close the shades. There are sleeper cars available, but I find the regular seats just fine. I didn't even need the bar car ahead of time to ensure a good sleep.
In the morning there is a Continental breakfast in the dining car. At 9 am the train rolls into Sanford FL, where they unload your car and you have a quick hop to WDW.
Perhaps the best thing is because you have your won car, you can pack whatever you want. No luggage to haul around, you just take what you need onto the train with you. ( i.e. your toothbrush) Since you never know what to expect at this time of year, we packed both summer and cool weather clothing.
The kids got a huge kick out of riding and sleeping on a train, and the cost (for 5 of us) was slightly less that airfare would have been. It was a win-win.
I think I am going to consider taking a train next time I vacation, it was a very pleasant alternative. I'd love to see them give the airlines a run for their money.
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Posted by Anonymous on 2010-12-07:
Nice review Obs, glad you and your family had such a good time.
Posted by Slimjim on 2010-12-07:
I've played around with the idea of taking this train when going to Florida for years. One time we'll have to try it.
Posted by MRM on 2010-12-07:
I didnt know the train takes that route. Thanks for the tidbit!
Posted by momsey on 2010-12-07:
That's awesome. Definitely something to keep in mind a few years down the road when we're ready to start hitting Disney!
Posted by werelucky on 2010-12-07:
Just remember, it's a 24 hour slow train ride, and it's not always on time.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-12-07:
I like a nice, long, slow ride. Not so sure about a train though.
Posted by MRM on 2010-12-07:
How much is the train ride and how long was the trip?
Posted by madconsumer on 2010-12-07:
i love traveling by train. not the fastest way to get there, but oh so comfortable.
very helpful.
Posted by Obsfucation on 2010-12-07:
We paid a bit less than $1,200 for five people and our car. (r/t) The train leaves around 4 pm, and arrives around 9 the next morning.
Posted by madconsumer on 2010-12-07:
obs, just remeber to tell everyone if they wanted a ptivate room, it adds 300-400 more per person!
but this also includes meals and prefered dinning time, and a private valet!!
Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-12-07:
great post thanks
Posted by Skye on 2010-12-07:
Great review!
Posted by Nohandle on 2010-12-07:
I've not been on a train since I was a small child. On my last trip, I recall my parents putting me on one to go to summer camp. I would love to travel by rail now. I'm weary of airlines and heaven forbid the bus but there aren't too many options anymore other than driving. It's a shame rail travel is not available in many areas. If you've never been on a train for a trip, not a morning commute, honestly you've missed something enjoyable.
Posted by momsey on 2010-12-07:
That's not a bad price!
Posted by Obsfucation on 2010-12-07:
MadC... there are 3 types of rooms. $190 (sleeps two), $547 (sleeps 4), and $415 (sleeps 2, has toilet and shower. The room rate isn't per person, it's per room.
Since the regular seating is similar to (actually better than) airline first class seats, I can't see a real reason to spend that kind of money for an overnight trip.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-12-07:
There is a dinner train here, good food and great scenery.
Posted by 3marliz on 2010-12-09:
My family and I always wanted to try the train. Three years ago was the first and last time. The first night the sleeper room we had reserved was unavailable. (We still paid for it by the way.)
We missed a meal because the train ran late to one of it's stops; we were not allowed to dine at a stop and so tough luck, we missed the meal.
They ran out of food the last day and the only thing to eat for our meal in the fancy dining car was Mac and Cheese.
The train was delayed and instead of phoning ahead to let the next station know we would be ten minutes late, the last train left. We waited two hours for a van to arrive and cram the passengers in to drive us the last few hours of the trip.
We talked to some people who loved taking the train and found out (too late) that the crews on different runs were different and those in the know timed their departure to be on the trains with good crews.
Maybe it's different now but it wouldn't hurt if you are taking Amtrack, to talk to some regulars at the station find out if there is still a big difference between the trains.
I thought of posting this as a review, but so much time has passed it seemed better to post it as a comment that might help others have a better trip.
Posted by ok4now on 2010-12-10:
Good post. Unless you are really pressed for time & need to fly this is the way to go. Excellent point about avoiding the airport screening & body scans. Plus they have a dining car instead of a bag of peanuts provided by the airlines. My only reservation from talking to friends who have used this is the possible damage to your car. Apparently they aren't real careful and this has generated many damage complaints. With the common $500 deductible the customer may have to absorb any potential damage out of pocket. Aside from this the train is definitely the way to go.
Posted by lorrwill on 2010-12-12:
Wow was your experience spectacularly different than mine.
The last time I rode Amtrak I had to stand almost the entire trip because I could not find a place to sit down. People were taking up 2 or 3 seats with their belongings and the porters told me tough luck.
Amtrak's customer service depends privilege people like me don't have.
Posted by Alain on 2011-01-06:
Just read this, Obsfucation. Good review and just the type of airport alternative I'm considering these days! Maybe it's time I gave Amtrak a try again even if it does take a little more time!
Posted by ms millie on 2011-01-14:
It's refreshing to see such a positive review. So many people use these sites to "bash" a company instead of feeling compelled to write when something wonderful happens. I enjoyed reading your post!
Posted by canucks1 on 2011-03-24:
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Train Service Sucks!!
Posted by Ispyder on 04/28/2012
CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS -- I arrived at the train station in Centrailia, IL 3 hours before the train was scheduled to depart. The train ended up being almost an hour late with no way of knowing exactly when it would show up. Finally, when it did arrive, it slowed down, stopped, the conductor threw some bags off, a couple passengers departed, and the train took off. I barely had time to get out of the car I was waiting in before the train was already on its way out.
They didn't even check to see if a passenger was supposed to get on the train and sure as hell didn't wait for me as I ran towards the tracks. It's utter bull crap. Even the station conductor, who knew I was there waiting, failed to tell me prior to the train's arrival that if the train is running late and you're not waiting on the platform, they will leave without you.
No signs were posted or anything listed on the website that stated you must be on the platform waiting if the train is running late. The website also suggested that the train has a load and unload time of about 5 minutes. This train had come and gone within a minute.
And besides all that crap, it makes it even worse that they expect you to stand on the platform and wait for a late train, not knowing when the hell it's going to show up, in the freezing cold at 1 in the morning in the middle of a shady side of town by yourself.
Their service sucks, their staff are douche bags, and the idea that trains are supposed to be on time is a bull crap lie.
The best way I can put it: if you're new to train travel, make sure you can read minds.
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Posted by Notatrainfreak on 2012-04-28:
AMTRAK offers multiple way of checking train status. You can go online, use a smartphone app or simply call their reservations number for automated service. If a train, or a bus is running late, they don't hang around. Unload and load - then gone. The web site does not show a scheduled 5 minute stop. In fact Centraila is a 'flag' stop which means if they don't see you they don't know you are there.
BTW, what station conductor are you referring to? Centraila is an unstaffed station. No ticket office, just an enclosed waiting area.
Posted by copper_works_ on 2012-04-28:
Maybe it was some freaky guy pretending to be a conductor.
Posted by jonthethird on 2012-04-28:
AMTRAK is indeed a different way to travel. The trains are subject to delays due to track work, traffic, etc as AMTRAK does not own the rails. It is still a much more relaxing way to travel
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Amtrak Stinks - Literally
Posted by Analilia on 01/12/2009
I recently emailed Amtrak Customer Service the following complaint regarding my train travel experience:
"I'd like to share with you my recent experience traveling from NY to LA on Amtrak. When traveling coach, I do expect a certain amount of discomfort and I plan accordingly. However, there are a number of things Amtrak might consider to create a more pleasant trip for coach passengers.
1) Smoking: Smokers are addicts and will continue, despite threats to put them off the train, to smoke in the bathrooms and changing rooms. The smell from this permeates the entire train car and does not go away. Please make a real effort to create a solution that meets the needs of your smoking and non-smoking passengers. Smokers are not going away and they don't care about kids, people with allergies, or the general health of anyone else.
2) Air Quality: We had the unfortunate experience of several drunken passengers who had both stomach and bowel problems. For the last 30 hours of our trip, the train car smelled like a port-a-potty. Several passengers had to leave the car as the smell was overwhelming. I'm not sure how to solve this, but ventilation changes or a different cleaning and/or toilet solution might help.
3) Employee Morale: In general I found the train personnel to be on the discourteous side. Perhaps it was a bad journey for everyone, but passengers look to the staff to help make it better. I observed staff giving curt responses, speaking in disrespectful tone of voice, and flat-out ignoring passengers.
I do enjoy riding the train, much more than flying. But after this last trip I am not likely to choose Amtrak. All my friends have now heard about my experience and that kind of word-of-mouth is not the marketing that will bring you new passengers. Thank you for your time."
I received a reply which in itself barely addressed my experience or gave any hint of the company's desire or intention to create better travel experiences. In addition, when I replied with the information requested in their email to me, the Amtrak email server did not process my reply and returned my email as 'undeliverable.' Here is Amtrak's reply to my complaint:
"Thank you for your email.
In order for us to document your concerns and suggestions correctly, and to provide the right train manager the information we are asking you to attach your reservation number or travel dates to this email.
Once we have that information we will file a report on your behalf to the responsible managers.
We do apologize for your trip being less then satisfactory and we appreciate your comments.
Amtrak Customer Relations"
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Posted by Anonymous on 2009-01-12:
Using email only generates the generic response you got. You really need to speak with someone at AMTRAK.
Posted by Ben There on 2009-01-12:
"But after this last trip I am not likely to choose Amtrak"... Not really any other train options out there in the USA...
Posted by Analilia on 2009-01-15:
As to other choices, I'll just go back to driving or flying.
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Cleanliness of passenger train
Posted by Susanzink199053 on 01/01/2012
NEW YORK TO CINCINNATI TRAIN, KENTUCKY -- AmTrak passenger train Cardinal train 51 from New York to Cincinnati was dirty. Several sitings of roaches in Coach class, had to ride train for 18 hours worried about roaches. Bathrooms were also stinky and dirty, no toilet paper for awhile and urine on the floor. When conductor told about sitings of roaches, she replied "just stomp on them." Food service, sub-par, freezer froze up, so only one choice in seated/waited on dining, on other side of Cafe car, only few choices of food due to running low on choices, everything from microwave, poor planning when train was completely full. Poor customer services. Unless these problem are rectified, I will never ride the AmTrak train again.
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Posted by MRM on 2012-01-01:
18 hours in a confined space is torture.
Posted by madconsumer on 2012-01-02:
i enjoy traveling by train, even long trips. sadly, the stocking is only done at certain stops. sometimes they do run out of things.
in all my trips, i have never seen roaches on any train.
Posted by jonthethird on 2012-01-02:
The only roaches I have ever seen on Amtrak were back in the coach and they were two legged kind. Yes, it is a shame that, due to limited budgets, the trains are not serviced more often. I travel frequently on Amtrak, always in a sleeper though.
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It's Not Florida, but the Sun's in My Face
Posted by Aromac1ous on 12/25/2013
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND -- This seems like such a petty complaint after reading another reviewers remarks.
I recently boarded a train in Baltimore and was so annoyed to find there was no way to block the southern exposure effect coming through my window. My suggestion--either install window shades on this particular route or discount the sunny seats.
Some people suffer from disorders that are worsened by too much light.
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Posted by FoDaddy19 on 2013-12-27:
Was it possible to simply move to another unoccupied seat?
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Austin >Arts & Entertainment > Slick Willie's Family Pool
8440 Burnet Rd Ste 160, Austin, TX | Directions 7875730.366182 -97.728972
Neighborhoods: North Shoal Creek
Expensive Pool! – This place is never crowded, must be because they charge so much! I played for 45 minutes and it cost $12 for just the pool. The game room is cheaper, better to spend your money there. The wait staff was very attentive, but they didn't have many customers, so that's probably why.
Clean, expenisive pool – Looking to get away from the warped cues and chipped balls? This is the place. I like to get a bucket of beers and play for an hour or two with friends. Split the cost and it's not so bad. When you are ready for a break, head over to the arcade for a couple games. It's a full bar, but the food is limited to popcorn and frozen pizza.
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Yellow & White Polka Dot Darling Fit N Flare Dress
Isn't she just darling? A fabulous 50's inspired A-line dress, complete in a cheeky yellow & white polka dot print! The dress is finished with a lightly lined bust, an elasticized back, and ties at the waist for the perfect fit. Hidden back zipper closure. Available in sizes S-L while supplies last.
- Made in the U.S.A.
- 97% Cotton 3% Spandex
- Dry Clean
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- Yellow & White Polka Dot
- Pleated Bust
- Thick Straps
- Back Tie @ Waist
To return an item, it must be delivered back to us within 14 days of receipt, (30 for international). You can opt to receive a refund (less shipping), an exchange or a store credit for future use. For exceptions and/or restocking fees see description.
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Getting out fast can be a challenge in a Colorado wildfire
Steve Schopper, a videographer with the CSFD, has shot footage of both the Black Forest Fire and the Waldo Canyon Fire. His footage from the Black Forest Fire shows how the mitigation efforts of the homeowner helped firefighters to save the house. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette)


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Second Honeymoon (Honeymoon #2)by James Patterson Howard Roughan
A walk down the aisle, a resort hotel, a drink on the beach...for these unlucky couples, the honeymoon's over. A newlywed couple steps into the sauna in their deluxe honeymoon suite--and never steps out again. When another couple is killed while boarding their honeymoon flight to Rome, it becomes clear that someone is targeting honeymooners, and it's anyone's guess which happy couple is next on the list. FBI Agent John O'Hara is deep into solving the case, while Special Agent Sarah Brubaker is hunting another ingenious serial killer, whose victims all have one chilling thing in common.As wedding hysteria rises to a frightening new level, John and Sarah work ever more closely together in a frantic attempt to decipher the logic behind two rampages. SECOND HONEYMOON is James Patterson's most mesmerizing, most exciting, and most surprising thriller ever.
See How They Runby James Patterson
Outside New York city, the palatial home of Dr. David Strauss's parents is attacked by gunmen during a glittering party. As he watches helplessly, his wife is murdered. In Los Angeles, Strauss's brother is killed during the Academy Award ceremonies. In Manhattan, his past sweetheart, Alix Rothchild, is running for her life. Dr. David Strauss is soon obsessed with finding the explosive secret behind the murders of his family members. His dangerous odyssey takes him across Europe, and finally to the Olympics, where one of the most shattering surprises in suspense fiction will take place.
Step on a Crack (Michael Bennett #1)by James Patterson Michael Ledwidge
During a state funeral for a beloved former First Lady in New York City's largest cathedral, the unthinkable occurs. Armed men disguised as monks seize the church and seal themselves inside, along with more than one hundred of the most powerful people in America. The captives include world leaders, actors, TV stars, athletes, and politicians, and the kidnappers are armed with enough C4 explosives to blow a crater in the middle of Manhattan.NYPD officer Michael Bennett is pulled into the standoff as lead negotiator. Despite the escalating danger, Michael faces an even more terrifying crisis at home. His wife has been diagnosed with a devastating disease, and Michael faces the prospect of losing the love of his life and having to raise their ten children alone. With his own life teetering and the lives of thousands suddenly his responsibility, Michael struggles to diffuse the tense situation fast. Yet the kidnappers' moves are impossible to predict, and they block every attempt to break into the cathedralmost as if they are privy to their deliberations.
Sundays at Tiffany'sby James Patterson Gabrielle Charbonnet
AN IMAGINARY FRIEND Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help. AN UNEXPECTED LOVE Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited. AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholasby James Patterson
Book editor Katie is in love with poet, Matt Harrison. He seems to share her feelings, but his refusal to talk about his past makes her suspicious. All she knows is that Matt was once married. One evening, he suddenly ends their relationship, leaving Katie devastated. A few days later, he sends her a notebook that he promises will explain everything. Katie opens the book to find it is the diary that Matt's wife, Suzanne, wrote for their baby son. It tells the story of her love for Matt and Nicholas, and reveals the tragedy that haunts Matt's life today. And Katie realises he needs her to understand his past if she is ever to be a part of his future.
Swimsuitby James Patterson Maxine Paetro
Syd, a breathtakingly beautiful supermodel on a photo shoot in Hawaii, disappears. Fearing the worst, her parents travel to Hawaii to investigate for themselves, never expecting the horror that awaits them. LA Times reporter Ben Hawkins is conducting his own research into the case, hoping to help the victim and get an idea for his next bestseller. With no leads and no closer to uncovering the kidnapper's identity than when he stepped off the plane, Ben gets a shocking visit that pushes him into an impossible-to-resist deal with the devil. A heart-pounding story of fear and desire, Swimsuit transports readers to a chilling new territory where the collision of beauty and murder transforms paradise into a hell of unspeakable horrors.
The Thomas Berryman Numberby James Patterson
The most terrifyingly efficient hit man alive stalks his biggest prize yet--the country's leading African-American citizen, the mayor of Nashville. In a desperate race against time, one Southern reporter must dog him across six states to get the story of a lifetime and stop a July 4th assassination of a beloved American leader.
Thrillerby James Patterson
BE PREPARED TO BE THRILLED AS YOU?VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE. Featuring North America's foremost thriller authors, Thriller is the first collection of pure thriller stories ever published. Offering up heart-pumping tales of suspense in all its guises are thirty-two of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning names in the business. From the signature characters that made such authors as David Morrell and John Lescroart famous to four of the hottest new voices in the genre, this blockbuster will tantalize and terrify. LOCK THE DOORS, DRAW THE SHADES, PULL UP THE COVERS AND BE PREPARED FOR THRILLER TO KEEP YOU UP ALL NIGHT.
Tick Tock (Michael Bennett #4)by James Patterson Michael Ledwidge
NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem--the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified!Tick--a killer's countdown beginsA rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind. Tick--Michael Bennett is on the chaseThe city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.Tock--your time is upBennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan. From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.
Toysby James Patterson Neil Mcmahon
James Bond and Jason Bourne have just been topped! A battle for the world is set into unstoppable motion and Hays Baker is the only one who can save it. Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth possess super-human strength, extraordinary intelligence, stunning looks, a sex life to die for, and two beautiful children. Of course they do--they're Elites, endowed at birth with the very best that the world can offer. The only problem in their perfect world: humans and their toys!The one with the most toys--diesThe top operative for the Agency of Change, Hays has just won the fiercest battle of his career. He has been praised by the President, and is a national hero. But before he can savor his triumph, he receives an unbelievable shock that overturns everything he thought was true. Suddenly Hays is on the other side of the gun, forced to leave his perfect family and fight for his life. Now a hunted fugitive, Hays is thrown into a life he never dreamed possible--fighting to save humans everywhere from extinction. He enlists all of his training to uncover the truth that will save millions of lives--maybe even his own. James Patterson's Toys is a thriller on a hyper plane--with a hero who rivals both James Bond and Jason Bourne.
Treasure Huntersby James Patterson Chris Grabenstein Mark Shulman Juliana Neufeld
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life and I Funny comes a brilliantly original new adventure series, jam-packed with action, humor, and heart!The Kidd siblings have grown up diving down to shipwrecks and traveling the world, helping their famous parents recover everything from swords to gold doubloons from the bottom of the ocean. But after their parents disappear n the job, the kids are suddenly thrust into the biggest treasure hunt of their lives. They'll have to work together to defeat dangerous pirates and dodge the hot pursuit of an evil treasure hunting rival, all while following cryptic clues to unravel the mystery of what really happened to their parents--and find out if they're still alive.
Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross #7)by James Patterson
D.C. Detective Alex Cross has seen a lot of crime scenes. But even he is appalled by the gruesome murders of two joggers in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park - killings that look more like the work of savage beasts than humans. Local police are horrified and even the FBI is baffled. Then, as Cross is called in to take on the case, the carnage takes off, leaving a trail of bodies across America and sweeping him to Savannah, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Los Angeles . . as his nemesis, the merciless criminal known as the Mastermind, stalks him, taunts him, and once again, threatens everything he holds dear...
Watch the Skies (Daniel X #2)by James Patterson Ned Rust
All's quiet in the small town of Holliswood, the television sets a-glow in every home. But not all is as perfect as it seems. A terrifying outlaw has just arrived in town, with the goal of throwing it into chaos--and filming the pandemonium for the fellas back home. Only one person can stop him and his thugs from destroying the city and everyone living there. Daniel X assembles an all-star team of his own creation, but not even he could imagine the enormity of this made-for-TV-villain's powers.
When the Wind Blows (When the Wind Blows #1)by James Patterson
Frannie O'Neill is a young and talented veterinarian living in Colorado. Plagued by the mysterious murder of her husband, David, a local doctor, Frannie throws herself into her work. It is not long before another bizarre murder occurs and Kit Harrison, a troubled and unconventional FBI agent, arrives on her doorstep. Late one night, near the woods of her animal hospital, Frannie stumbles upon a strange, astonishing phenomenon that will change the course of her life forever.... Her name is Max. With breathtaking energy, eleven-year-old Max leads Frannie and Kit to uncover one of the most diabolical and inhuman plots of modern science. When the Wind Blows is as unique a story as has ever been told, filled with suspense and passion.
Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard #1)by James Patterson Gabrielle Charbonnet
The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?
The Women's Murder Club Collection, Volumes 1-3by James Patterson
The World's Bestselling Thriller Writer James Patterson Collection
Worst Case (Michael Bennett #3)by James Patterson Michael Ledwidge
Best case: survivalThe son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can't save him, because this kidnapper isn't demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal.Worst case: deathDetective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own, he can't begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone's children. As another student disappears, one powerful family after another uses their leverage and connections to turn the heat up on the mayor, the press--anyone who will listen--to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, who send their top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker. Bennett's life--and love life--suddenly get even more complicated. This case: Detective Michael Bennett is on itBefore Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet--one that could bring cataclysmic devastation to every inch of New York. From the shocking first page to the last exhilarating scene, Worst Case is a non-stop thriller from "America's #1 storyteller" (Forbes).
You've Been Warnedby James Patterson Howard Roughan
Kristin Burns is making her way in New York City. Her photos are being considered at a major Manhattan gallery, she works by day with two wonderful children, and the man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. But just as everything she's ever wanted is finally within reach, her life changes forever--with one murderous nightmare. Kristin wakes up every morning from the same chilling, unforgettable dream. And suddenly, it's visiting her during the day too. As her life turns stranger by the minute, Kristin is haunted and terrified. Is it all in her head? Or is the nightmare becoming her life? Kristin searches desperately for what's real through the lens of her camera, only knowing two things for sure: that no place is safe and the fate of everyone she loves lies in her hands.
Zooby James Patterson Michael Ledwidge
Once in a lifetime, a writer puts it all together. This is James Patterson's best book ever. TotalFor 36 years, James Patterson has written unputdownable, pulse-racing novels. Now, he has written a book that surpasses all of them. ZOO is the thriller he was born to write.WorldAll over the world, brutal attacks are crippling entire cities. Jackson Oz, a young biologist, watches the escalating events with an increasing sense of dread. When he witnesses a coordinated lion ambush in Africa, the enormity of the violence to come becomes terrifyingly clear.DestructionWith the help of ecologist Chloe Tousignant, Oz races to warn world leaders before it's too late. The attacks are growing in ferocity, cunning, and planning, and soon there will be no place left for humans to hide. With wildly inventive imagination and white-knuckle suspense that rivals Stephen King at his very best, James Patterson's ZOO is an epic, non-stop thrill-ride from "One of the best of the best." (TIME)
Select your download format based upon: 1) how you want to read your book, and 2) compatibility with your reading tool. For more details, visit the Formats page under the Getting Started tab.See and hear words read aloud
- DAISY Text - See words on the screen and hear words being read aloud with the text-to-speech voice installed on your reading tool. Navigate by page, chapter, section, and more. Can also be used in audio-only mode. Compatible with many reading tools, including Bookshare's free reading tools.
- DAISY Text with Images - Similar to DAISY Text with the addition of images within the Text. Your reading tool must support images.
- Read Now with Bookshare Web Reader - Read and see images directly from your Internet browser without downloading! Text-to-speech voicing and word highlighting are available on Google Chrome (extension installation required). Other browsers can be used with limited features. Learn more
- DAISY Audio - Listen to books in audio-only mode with the high-quality Kendra voice by Ivona pre-installed. Navigate by page, chapter, section, and more. Must be used with a DAISY Audio compatible reading tool.
- MP3 - Listen to books in audio-only mode with the high-quality Kendra voice by Ivona pre-installed. Navigate using tracks. Can be used with any MP3 player.
- BRF (Braille Ready Format) - Read with any BRF compatible refreshable braille display; navigate using the search or find feature.
- DAISY Text - Read with any DAISY 3.0 compatible refreshable braille display, navigate by page, chapter, section, and more.
- Embossed Braille - Use Bookshare's DAISY Text or BRF formats to generate embossed braille.


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xBaK is a fan-made remake of the classic Sierra computer RPG "Betrayal at Krondor". It is a game engine that uses the data files that came with the original game by Sierra Online. You must already have your own copy, since the required data files are not distributed with xBaK. The game is still under development. The intro, the option dialogs, and the main game dialog are finished, but the game is not yet playable. Several tools for examining the contents of the data files are also available.
SHOGUN is a machine learning toolbox whose focus is on large scale kernel methods and especially on Support Vector Machines (SVM). It provides a generic SVM object interfacing to several different SVM implementations, all making use of the same underlying, efficient kernel implementations. Apart from SVMs and regression, SHOGUN also features a number of linear methods like Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Linear Programming Machine (LPM), (Kernel) Perceptrons, and algorithms to train hidden Markov models. SHOGUN can be used from within C++, Matlab, R, Octave, and Python.
Fresh Memory is an application that helps you to learn large amounts of any material with Spaced Repetition method. The most important subject is learning foreign words, but Fresh Memory can also e used to learn anything else. Other examples are country's capitals and flags, chemical elements, mathematical formulas, and technical terms. The learning data is stored as flash cards and dictionaries: sets of cards. The flash cards may have several fields, and the user controls what combination of fields to learn. The flash cards can have formatted text and images. The look of flash cards and studying parameters are can be flexibly adjusted.
ArduinoPulseGenerator is a simple program for generating pulse sequences using an Arduino. There is an associated GUI that runs on the local computer, or you can simply connect to the Arduino with a serial console (9600 baud) and send it commands. This code has been tested on the ArduinoMega 2560 (timing accuracy ~ ±200 μs) and Arduino Due (timing accuracy ~ ±35 μs); it may work on other Arduino boards.
A Google App Engine SDK appliance that is easy to use and lightweight.
A tool for creating customized Cygwin installers.


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Posted by The Cryptkeeper | Posted 197 days ago.
DARK FEED centers on a film crew shooting a low budget movie in an abandoned mental hospital with a shadowy past. The late nights and lack of sleep are taking a toll, and the longer this crew works, the more the leaky, wet building seems to be coming back to life, feeding off its new
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@10 months ago with 3 notes
#instafood #seafood #cuttingboard #fradiavolo #sweetpotato #calamari #wafflefries
Hey, I'm Sharon. NINETEEN; SENIOR '12. Pisces. Born and raised in NYC. I adore Taylor Swift. I like a little bit of everything. I DO NOT do the whole "follow for a follow" thing. I'll ONLY follow you if I find your blog interesting.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, my ask is always available.
Oh yeah, by the way, I DO NOT own the photos, paintings, or any other visuals posted on my blog unless it's stated otherwise.


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News Releases by Email
News Release
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Media contact: Alan Knothe, 850-265-3676
Winter seems like a distant memory. Trees and
flowers are blossoming, birds are building nests and critters are
being born.
This is also the time of year when the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) receives calls about
"abandoned" animals that people believe may be in need of
However, these rescues may do more harm than
After giving birth, adult wildlife must forage to
provide food for themselves and their young. This means
leaving their newborns for short periods. Having some basic
knowledge of wildlife and the survival skills animals use is
important in understanding most wildlife doesn't need rescuing.
Common targets of misplaced rescues are baby deer,
temporarily left in a safe place while their mother feeds
nearby. Many people who find fawns mistakenly assume the
young deers' mothers abandoned them, when, in reality, the parents
are in the process of ensuring the infants' survival.
"In most cases, it is absolutely not in the fawn's
best interest to try to rescue it," said Alan Knothe, a wildlife
biologist who handles wildlife calls in the FWC's Panama City
Knothe says people typically discover fawns that
are waiting for their mother. Often, people find a fawn in brush or
other cover, where a doe has placed her new offspring for
protection. These settings tend to help mask the fawn's
scent, thus providing good protection from the keen nose of a
People discover these seemingly abandoned baby deer
and become concerned when the parent is nowhere in sight.
Sometimes the would-be rescuer falsely believes the young animal
will perish unless they save it or take it to a wildlife
rehabilitation center. Others take the fawns, thinking only
about making a pet of the animal.
"Unfortunately, actions of this kind usually have
the opposite effect of a rescue," Knothe said. "The stress
created by changing the animal's diet and surroundings is often
"If the rescued fawn manages to survive, its return
to the wild is practically impossible because of human imprinting
or a lack of survival skills. If it had remained wild, the
young deer would have learned the necessary survival skills from
its mother."
Another way to help with the survival of the young
animals is to not feed them. Although that may sound odd,
feeding can cause problems ranging from poor nutrition to making
the animal dependent on humans for food, to loss of foraging
skills, all of which can decrease the critter's chances of
"These animals have survived for a long time
without assistance. They can continue to survive without handouts,"
Knothe said.
The FWC recommends that if you find a fawn or other
baby animal, don't touch it, and quietly leave the area.
Touching the animal may cause the mother to reject it because
human scent contaminated it.
On the other hand, songbirds have almost no sense
of smell. People can return baby birds to their nest without much
chance of rejection. This time of year, young songbirds found
on the ground look a bit dazed or confused. The youngster may be
trying to hide in tall grass or in low bushes to avoid discovery by
predators. These young birds are going through a process
called fledging.
When they're ready to fledge, young birds have
grown all the adult feathers they'll need to fly, but they still
must learn to fly. During this process, the immature birds
sometimes end up on the ground, where they may spend several days
before they learn all their flight skills.
"While on the ground, the juvenile birds' parents
watch over them, feeding them and helping them learn necessary
survival skills. Help the parents by keeping any pets,
particularly cats, inside or out of the way," Knothe said.
"Please don't interfere in this crucial learning process."
Here are some important facts that can help
determine if a baby bird needs rescuing. According to
biologists, the only time people should rescue a baby songbird is
when it is on the ground and has almost no feathers, when pets
injure the bird or its tail is less than a half-inch long, and it
cannot hop around on its own.
In those circumstances Knothe recommends putting
baby birds in a lined hanging planter in a tree near the actual
nest location. He said the location should be in the shade
and hidden from the view of predators, if possible.
"Most parents will come back to care for the
fledgling. Sometimes, however, they reject the chick because
of a limited food supply, an inability to care for the young chick,
or for other reasons we may not understand," Knothe said. "If
the parents don't return, then the chick should be taken to a rehab
center. Migratory birds are protected and need to be cared
for by a licensed facility."
The FWC's Panama City Regional Office,
850-265-3676, has a list of rehabbers. Many local
veterinarians also work closely with wildlife rehabilitators and
can be a good source of advice.
The FWC asks you to remember that removing an
animal from the wild to save it may actually have the opposite
effect. Seek advice from wildlife professionals before
attempting to rescue any animal and please remember: In most cases,
it is better to leave wildlife wild.
For more information on Florida's wildlife and what
you can do to help, go to MyFWC.com/Wildlife and select "Living
with Wildlife."
FWC Facts:Least killifish rarely exceed 1 inch in length and are the smallest of Florida's freshwater fish.
Learn More at AskFWC
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission • Farris Bryant Building
620 S. Meridian St. • Tallahassee, FL
32399-1600 • (850) 488-4676
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